Hannover 96 and Hertha BSC Berlin faced off on December 22, 2024, ending their 2. Bundesliga match without scoring, resulting in a goalless draw at Hannover's home ground. This match was notable for the intensity on the pitch and included two red cards, making the showdown even more dramatic.
From the kick-off, it was clear both teams were eager to secure valuable points, especially with Hannover chasing the promotion playoff spots and Hertha seeking to improve their disappointing season so far. The first half saw some promising opportunities, with Hannover’s Sei Muroya causing problems early on before both teams settled down to a fast-paced but cautious start.
Hannover had the first major chance to open the scoring, with Muroya aiming high above the goal just past the 20-minute mark. Hertha tried to respond, as Derry Scherhant made dangerous runs on the left, but the first half ended with neither team able to break the deadlock.
The second half started with Hertha’s Ibrahim Maza almost giving his team the lead just two minutes after the restart, but his shot narrowly missed the target. The turning point came around the hour mark when Hannover’s Fabian Kunze fouled Smail Prevljak, resulting in his sending off with a second yellow card. This left Hannover with ten men for the duration of the match, which shifted the dynamics significantly.
After the red card, Hertha began to dominate. Scherhant, who had already been the standout performer for his side, tested Hannover’s goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler with several attempts, including one spectacular save by Zieler to deny Scherhant's strong volley at the 63rd minute. Despite being one player up, Hertha struggled to find the decisive goal.
Hannover’s defense held firm, and as the match progressed, they attempted to regroup. They had some successes, going on the attack with counter-chances, but their attempts fell short. The intensity of the match culminated with another sending off—this time for Hertha’s Márton Dárdai, who received his second yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, leveling the teams back at ten players.
With only minutes left, both teams pushed hard for what could have been the winning goal. Hannover made frantic efforts to exploit the equal footing, but as the whistle blew for full time, neither side could find the back of the net. The final score of 0-0 reflected the carefully contested nature of the game, and the struggle of both teams to convert chances.
Hannover’s coach, Stefan Leitl, reflected on the result, stressing, "We’re two points off the promotion place, so the question answers itself," indicating the pressure for his team to secure success. Conversely, Hertha’s Cristian Fiél lamented missed opportunities during their spell of dominance, noting, "We had good chances during the period we were one man up; we just couldn’t convert."
Despite being satisfied with their defensive performance, the lack of offensive potency left both sides with much to ponder as they head to the winter break. Hannover, who finishes the first half of the season sitting 7th, will look to bounce back on January 17, 2025, against Regensburg, hoping to push for the promotion playoff positions. Meanwhile, Hertha, currently 12th, has similar aspirations as they gear up for their next match against Paderborn on January 19.
